This author is problematic. Please see the Jonah Lehrer article on Wikipedia. I first became aware of him when he fabricated information related to Bob Dylan.

He has published three books, two of which, Imagine and How We Decide, were withdrawn from the market by publishers after it was discovered that Lehrer had fabricated quotations. This led to his resignation from his staff position at The New Yorker following disclosures that he had recycled his own work for the magazine. A later investigation at Wired.com, where he had previously worked, found instances of recycled content and plagiarism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah_Lehrer

Cash or card can be very likely the same if you use a debit card. You then have the "foldin' readily at hand, with more safety than cash, and yet still the better bargaining power than a credit card, together with the peace of mind that you are using money that you HAVE and don't have to be concerned of having to cover in the future.

I love cards, because they are so convenient. But I didn't always. 30 years ago I put the scissors thru every one of our cards and reverted to cash because we were on a very low income and money was tight.

When I first got a credit card, I had a bulletin board in the kitchen and I pinned every receipt to it and every month I started a table on which I listed every purchase and recorded the running balance on the card, plus a budget that listed what we could spend in each category and recorded how much had beens spent in that category. I have ALWAYS paid in full before the due date, and I've ALWAYS checked every purchase carefully against the statement (We've been ripped off several times with fraudulent charges - one for $15,000! But I've resolved in my favour every time.)

Now, I keep accounts using a free money manager software program and it tells me my card balance at any given time. I love the card rewards! And I now hate having to carry cash.

For people who can't manage their money, cards are a disaster, although a debit card that lets you put a small amount in and only spend up to that limit may be helpful. There's still a temptation to overspend too early in the cycle though.

Wow rainey, I though I was obsessive, but I think you win... lol

I also keep a spreadhseet of all transactions, including the non-credit card banking, and pay off the credit cards each month. It has been a great source of information to start budgeting and planning our retirement (28 more sleeps to go).

You are right about being disciplined though, we can't afford to think of credit cards as "free money", it all has to be paid at some point.

I don't think I would like this so called "cashless society" and personally I don't think it will take off for quite a while. My belief is RBA is pushing this belief because they want more people to use cards. Any shop I go into I see dozens of people using cash. We use cash for small purchases and a debit card for larger ones. Would definitely not resume using a credit card and try to dissuade our grandchildren from using one, but the young being the young will always do what they want to do, so they have learnt a few lessons the hard way and are much more careful. I even see people using cheques at the post office to pay bills.

ATM withdrawals are  less because people like me don't trust them ( skimming, etc. ) WHen I need cash I get cash out with my purchase at the supermarket

I very rarely use cash, most people I know don't either,  a debit or credit card for me cash just for coffees or parking if the meter can't take a card. Like others my monthly statements tell me where my money is going when I check them before paying it off. It also means no heavy coin purses as I can carry cards in a slim card case along with my phone in my pocket. 

Rainey which free money manager do you use? I used to use double entry paper spreadsheets but then used excel but a simpler one is a good idea.

30 years ago, we banked with an industry credit union that ran a brilliant budget program. I think if the Government were to get behind someone reputable offering this and encourage low income earners and those with money management problem into it, a lot of problems could be solved! What they did was drew up a budget with members at the start of the year, allocating amounts to every type of expenditure. They totalled all the costs for gas, electricity, registration, licenses, mortage payments, rents, rates, water, insurance etc. etc. and added 10% to the total, then divided by the number of pay periods in the year for that member. Then they had the member sign a request for the paymaster to deduct that amount each pay period and pay it into the Credit Union Budget Account for that member. The balance of the member's pay was paid in cash so they had money for day to day expenses.

When a bill came in, the member handed it over the counter and the credit union paid it from the member's budget account. Just before the end of the calendar year, the member got a statement and a budget update form, plus a cheque for the surplus in the account (less a ''reserve'' to kick off the next financial year). The surplus provided money for Christmas spending.

There was a facility to extend the program to provide for special purpose, emergency or long term savings.

I can see that linking a card to an account like that - one that can only be used for designated expenses - could add convenience. Or a debit card could be added that allowed money for food and clothing etc. to be deposited as well and spend through the debit card, with the member getting regular statements showing spending against budget figures. It's a great way to teach people money management skills and encourage saving. Seeing that surplus grow each month makes members much more aware of the benefits of, for example, reducing electricity and gas consumption, or shopping around for a better value insurance policy.

Cards definitely the way to go. Much more convenient and safer than carrying cash. It is imortant that credit cards are paid off fully every month, though.

I hate having to pay with cash in the few places I go which have a charge for using a card. I do though, because I object strongly to paying the extra.

I also love the loyalty points we get for using the card. It's money for nothing.

Cards are best.

l prefer cash,easier to keep track of.

I use cards but am very on the ball with htme and always paid on time-- I like to be able to know I also have cash if needed.

They are working towards a cashless society because that way they have even more control over everyone.

Cash is King! Since cards were in operation the banks have too much information on you and the charges are extreme. I still have a card but only debit. I like to look after my own money and enjoy life because of it.

If the bank has too much information so does everyone else but the worsed culprits are the government. Nowadays they get all the information they want from you when years ago they wanted it but privacy stopped that.